And the final stop on our blog tour is… fiction, the third in a series for which I’ve previously reviewed the second book. You can find that review here, from our February blog tour.

Did you see which book it was? Yes, that’s right… Janice Thompson’s ‘Weddings By Bella’ series.

It Had to Be You (Weddings By Bella, Book 3) – Janice Thompson

Synopsis (from publisher):

Get ready for a double dose of wedding frenzy!

Bella couldn’t be happier that two of her long-feuding relatives have finally admitted their love for one another and are getting married. Their forties-style wedding is sure to be a night to remember. But when the Rossi house begins to fill up with family from Italy–and an old mobster from New Jersey–life starts to get complicated. Will a friend from the past drive the happy couple apart once more? And will Bella ever have time to think of her own rapidly approaching wedding amid the chaos?

Full of humor, plenty of Italian passion, and a bit of Texas gumption, It Had to Be You will have you laughing out loud and wiping a tear from your eye.

My Thoughts:

Why, oh why did I agree to read this when I was less than impressed with book #2? Well, I have a good reason. When I was browsing around online a few days after posting my own review, I came across a rather positive review of the book on someone else’s site. The author of that review had a few similar qualms to mine (notably, the lack of any flaws in the main character), so I clicked through to read the comments. Turns out the author took a moment to comment on the review and mention that in book #3, we’d see more of Bella’s flaws and she’d have some tough things to work through.

“Oh, well in that case,” I thought, “Maybe I’ll read the next book if it’s available, because I’m curious to see how that pans out.”

Lucky for me, the third book came up for offer on this blog tour, and I accepted. And read the book with an open mind and a view toward what the author said she was trying to accomplish with this installment.

How did that turn out? I’ll tell you honestly — I enjoyed this book a lot more than the previous one, that’s for darn sure. But then again, that’s not saying much. In all seriousness though, I had a much easier time working through this book and relating to the characters than in book 2. Maybe that’s because the author had two previous books in which to develop the characters and establish the family dynamics? Still, it worked better this time.

Now, the rest of what I have to say about the book may dive into spoilery territory, so if you plan on reading the book, go ahead and stop reading the review now. I mean it! If you’re not sure about whether you’ll read it or not, and are interested in my qualms, keep reading — but I’m warning you, I will give away one plot point in particular at the end… mind you, it’s a rather predictable plot point, but I warn you nonetheless.

So… ***SPOILERS AHEAD***

Yes, the family dynamics worked better. Yes, Bella’s character, and the supporting characters, were better shaped, and I didn’t want to scream at them as often. However, there’s still the issue of the “too perfect” hero and heroine.

Bella’s fiance is absolutely flawless. He keeps a few secrets from her now and again — which is presented to us like this is something terrible — but the secrets are actually surprises. So, nothing harmful or things that you’d typically consider a “secret” kept from a significant other. Yes, we read romances for strong, capable men, but no one is perfect. No one is in a good mood 100% of the time. Especially in the months leading up to a wedding!

But even I could look past this. What I really wanted out of this book was to see something change in Bella. I wanted to see her weaknesses, her frailties, anything to be able to connect with this all-too-perfect heroine that, in the previous book, did nothing but make me want to scream at her. This time around, Bella actually did get flustered. She lost concentration, she wasn’t always in a good mood… and it was clear that the author was taking her down the “doing too much & not caring for yourself” road (maybe Bella should have read “No More Christian Nice Girl”!).

This was a good sign! A flaw (albeit, a pretty weak one…)! And here’s your spoiler, because Bella’s overexertion lands her in the hospital with a diagnosis of exhaustion. Yeah, we saw that coming. But then it gets bizarre… because instead of teaching Bella a lesson about doing too much and not taking care of herself, we get a moment of NON-FORESHADOWED PERSONAL CRISIS where Bella “realizes” that she’s been trying to “prove herself to everyone”, yada yada. Wait… what? This is the flaw? This is the thing she needs to confront?

Okay, okay, that’s fine and all… but we learn about it only in the last few chapters of the book?!? If Bella was so concerned about failing and ruining her business and such, shouldn’t we have seen hints of it throughout the novel? Instead, we get an overworked Bella who seems to be doing it because she’s a workaholic… not because of some personal crisis.

When you throw out reasoning like that at the last second, it negates all the character building work from the rest of the book. It felt random, and I still don’t know why we didn’t see real hints of it throughout the rest of the novel. Honestly, it spoiled the book for me. I’d been having a decent time reading it until… total randomness. Sigh.

In Conclusion…

Look, I know this author has a large following and has written a lot of books, and I think that’s wonderful! Like I’ve said before, she has a wide audience who clearly love her style of storytelling, and I don’t begrudge that one bit. So, Janice Thompson, if you read this (since clearly you read blog reviews!), please know that I respect you as a successful author who has found her niche market. I really, truly mean that!

However, since not every book is for everybody, I think I’m justified in saying that I don’t like how this one ended and I felt a bit cheated by it. Still, looking at the book as a whole, I had a much better experience with this one than the previous installment, and I do think this one could be read as a stand-alone without the previous two.

Ultimately? Stick it in the church library! I know folks who would love to read this kind of thing, and even though I didn’t particularly care for the writing style, the characterization, or the plot “twist” with Bella, I know it has an audience out there with readers who like their romances very sweet and very innocent (and with perfect people).

So, if that’s your thing? Don’t let me discourage you!

And for your own reading pleasure… here’s an excerpt you can read, to see for yourself whether it’s the kind of thing you’d enjoy or not (note: it’s a PDF).

Available now at your favorite bookseller from Revell,

a division of Baker Publishing Group.

Day 3 of the blog tour… and onto a book that, despite the title, contains a measure of wisdom that I think almost ALL women could use sometimes.

No More Christian Nice Girl: When Just Being Nice — Instead of Good — Hurts You, Your Family, and Your Friends – Paul Coughlin & Jennifer D. Degler, PhD

Summary (from the publisher):

Be the Strong, Confident, and Caring Woman You Were Meant to Be

Tired of doing all you can for others while your relationships remain stuck in neutral–or headed in reverse? Paul Coughlin and psychologist Jennifer Degler show how being nice can harm you and drain the life out of your relationships. They explore the keys to fulfillment at home, work, church, and even in the bedroom. You’ll discover that emulating the real Jesus is the key to transforming from a Christian Nice Girl into an authentic, powerful woman of loving faith.

My Thoughts:

This is one book I wish I’d read even just six months ago. The concept of this book is that Christian women are so often taught to be “nice”, that “nice” is the only acceptable way of behaving, because that’s how Jesus behaved. Conflict, confrontation, anger, and standing up for one’s self (if it causes conflict) is no way for a nice woman to act, according to our example in Scripture… BUT… the authors point out that this is absolutely not the case.

Jesus didn’t avoid conflict, he got angry, he yelled at people, he stood up to those who asked things of him that he didn’t care to give or do for them, and he made a lot of enemies. But he also was good, which means he acted out qualities like caring, helpfulness, love, righteousness, and justice. And as Christian women, we have to stop buying into the “nice” description and be GOOD instead.

“Nice” gets you walked all over. “Nice” brings stress and anxiety because you’re trying to be everything to everyone. “Nice” brings eventual emotional breakdowns because you’re spending all this time doing things for other people that resentment and frustration will build to a breaking point. “Nice” means staying in emotionally or physically abusive friendships or relationships because you don’t want to rock the boat, or get anyone upset with you.

And in the end, the person you’re hurting? Is yourself. We’re not supposed to be “nice”. We’re supposed to be “good”. From my perspective, women from all backgrounds — religious, social, economic — are all susceptible to this “nice” mindset, and we’re experts at feeling false guilt when we say “no” to things or refuse to do something.

Until a few months ago, I was a “Christian nice girl”… and then I realized that’s no way to live. I started saying “no” to things, and gave myself permission to sit down and relax. I’ve always been one to stand up for myself — I don’t avoid confrontation — but in certain settings, I’ll sometimes wait until it’s too late to say anything. I’ve been in some bad friendships that I clung to because I didn’t want people getting upset with me. But you know what? Living that way, being “nice”, was hurting me. I don’t want to be “nice” anymore, I want to be GOOD. And that means acting in MY best interests AS WELL AS the interests of others.

The book also reminds you that sometimes this will be seen negatively by the world, since many people have a double standard for women and men. Men who say ‘No’ are viewed as strong, competent players who know what they want and aren’t afraid to go out and get it. Men get into conflict and it’s looked on as part of the way they relate, no harm done. When many women act the same way, they’re viewed as aggressive, heartless bitches. Unfortunately, that’s just the way the world works sometimes, and until the people around you realize that you’re no longer willing to be their doormat, you’re going to encounter this from some people.

I could talk for hours about this subject and this book, but instead I’ll leave you with a few links to some additional information about the book and the authors.

**EDIT: WordPress is giving me some trouble inserting links, so I’ll come back and try to do it later. I have a book excerpt and an author Q&A to link you to, but you can also reach them through the book page linked to the title of the book at the top of this post. Thanks for your patience!

Available now at your favorite bookseller from Bethany House,

a division of Baker Publishing Group.

In the same vein as yesterday’s book, today’s book explores those instances in life where thing don’t (or didn’t) go the way you planned… but unlike yesterday’s book, this one is specific to women and women’s issues.

What Happened to My Life?: Finding New Passion, Purpose, and Joy – Danna Demetre

Summary (from the publishers):

Heidy-ho, good neighbors! (Does anyone else miss Wilson from Home Improvement, or is that just me?)

It’s that time of month again (no, not THAT time, ladies)… the time where we look at all the lovely books sent for review by Graf-Martin Communications/Baker/Revell and this month, also Thomas Nelson.

I have four books to show you this month: three non-fiction and slightly related in terms of topic, and one fiction that I think you’ll be surprised by (if you’ve been reading this blog for a little while).

This month, we’ll start with the three non-fiction books and end off with fiction. Remember, these three non-fictions are somewhat related in content, so if this is an area of reading that interests you, RSS this baby and come back over the next few days. You might also find a book among these ones that you’ll want to pass on to a friend or relative (I know I did).

So, today? We start with Plan B.

Plan B: What Do You Do When God Doesn’t Show Up the Way You Thought He Would? - Pete Wilson

Book Trailer (it’s interesting, watch it if you’d prefer not to read the summary):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C34l01O8rI0

Summary (from the publisher):

My Thoughts:

Plan B is “one of those books”… the kind you pick up when you’re in the midst of struggling with a circumstance in your life, or if you know a friend or relative who’s struggling and you’re looking for some way to help comfort them… only to find more packed inside the pages than you expected. The author is speaking to you, and you’re amazed at the truth behind the words.

All of us have something in our lives that didn’t go the way we planned, and I’d be willing to take bets on the chances that we think about it and wonder “what if?” or “why me?” from time to time.

Wilson’s book speaks to those longings and wonderings, and helps us understand what to do when it’s time to turn to Plan B. Or, how to keep on going if you’ve been stuck on Plan B for awhile now.

I honestly don’t want to say much else about it, because I think the book trailer says enough for you to know whether or not this is the kind of book you want or need (or that someone you know wants or needs). But I’ll also say that Wilson doesn’t let you off easy, either — there are no pat answers, trite responses, or cliched phrases of comfort.

He hits readers with biblical wisdom, logical thinking, and the hard truth that you need to hear. I was skeptical of the book at first, I’ll admit (but that’s not unusual for me) and was impressed with what I came away with. It may not be easy to read if you’re struggling with life not turning out how you’d planned, but I think you’ll come away a stronger person for it.

After all, life never goes the way we expect — that’s why it’s called living and not coasting.

My verdict? This is one for the bookshelves. Re-read as necessary. Pass on where you see need.

Rest assured in the ‘plan Bs’ of life.

Book has been provided courtesy of Thomas Nelson and Graf-Martin Communications, Inc.

Available May 2010 at your favourite bookseller.

I am Hutterite: The Fascinating Story of One Woman’s Journey to Reclaim Her Heritage - Mary-Ann Kirkby

In 1969, the author’s parents did something unthinkable: they packed up their things and left the Hutterite colony where they’d lived with their seven children for years. They intended to start a new life outside the colony, and the entire family was thrown into a society they didn’t understand and which looked at Hutterite people as strange, bizarre creatures.

The book records the early days of Kirkby’s parents — before they met — traveling through their courtship, the birth of their children, the conflict between her father and the colony leader, and eventually their ‘running away’ (leaving the colony was referred to as “running away”).

My Thoughts…

Some of the most interesting points of the book were: learning about which customs today’s Hutterites have kept since their sect was founded 500 years ago; the communal nature of the colonies; the bizarre politics involved in the daily interactions; seeing Kirkby’s family attempt to integrate themselves into ‘modern society’.

Mind you, the “running away” doesn’t come until three quarters of the way through the book… and that was the thing the book description focused on the most, so I was a little surprised to see that less than half the book was devoted to this material. I understand that most people don’t have any concept of who the Hutterites are, but I don’t think it’s fair to label a book as being about someone’s journey to find her self of self outside the only life she knew, but spend most of the book talking about that former life.

But, it’s interesting at the very least. It’s not the most riveting read — sometimes the endless description of life inside the colony can get a bit dry, and I admit to skimming pages more than a few times — but if you’re interested in the Hutterites and who they are, you’ll probably find a lot to like here. Just don’t expect to spend a lot of time reading about the transition (though what IS there is fascinating).

I received this book free from Thomas Nelson Publishers as part of their BookSneeze.com

book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review.

And here we are on our final stop this month, a book that surprised me in how much I enjoyed it and made me wonder whether I might actually enjoy CBA historical fiction after all (who knew?!)…

She Walks in Beauty – Siri Mitchell

Synopsis (from the publisher):

Yet Clara soon wonders if this is the life she really wants. Especially when she learns her best friend has also set her sights on Franklin De Vries. When a man appears who seems to love her simply for who she is and gossip backlash turns ugly, Clara realizes it’s not just her marriage at stake–the future of her family depends on how she plays the game.

My Thoughts:

I really, really enjoyed this novel… which came as a rather big surprise. Banquets, balls, and idle social chatter aren’t typical fare for my reading tastes, but I decided to give this one a try anyway… expanding one’s reading horizons and all that. So imagine my surprise when I found myself truly intrigued by the story, the main character, and the unexpected situation she finds herself in!

Since I haven’t read much that’s similar, I can’t compare it to other books out there (though I know there are many set in this time period/similar situation) — but coming from someone who isn’t familiar with the genre, I found it to be a charming introduction. The characters felt realistically portrayed, and there was just the right balance of description and plot… which I mention only because I do know the genre often focuses a lot on things like setting, clothing, and food. There wasn’t too much of this to bore me, but just enough to give the reader the information she needs and provide the right tone to the novel.

I will say this, however… some of what happened in the story reminded me a great deal of Vin & Elend in the first book of Brandon Sanderson’s Mistborn trilogy. But that’s a good thing! I found the main character and the ‘hero’ to be likable characters (with flaws! huzzah!) that I honestly developed an affection for, and I thought the subplot with Clara’s best friend was skillfully and very realistically handled… when you read it, you’ll know what I mean, but it’s one of those situations where an author might often force a character to behave differently for the sake of the story (but as a reader, you know that would never happen simply due to that certain circumstance), but Mitchell keeps the character consistent and true to life.

If you’re not familiar with these ball & banquet-type stories, I think this is definitely an excellent introduction to the genre. If you’re nervous about reading a CBA book, I’ll let you know that the ‘Christian’ side of things in this novel is subtle and, in truth, not overtly present. I think one quick conversation mentions God, and there’s a moment of reflection, but there isn’t a drawn-out evangelistic scene, or random changes of heart, or anything that feels out of place or forced. It’s simply comparable to any novel where a character has a moment of reflection about her beliefs, and I commend Mitchell for keeping her novel realistic but still within the boundaries of CBA-approved storytelling.

And I also learned a lot about corsets, pessaries (WOW), and how our image-driven culture is simply a continuation of the obsessions and mistakes of generations before…

In Conclusion…

This is where I often say “it’s good for church libraries” and leave it at that… but in this case, I can tell you that I already have several friends and family members that I plan to recommend this book to, and it’s one that I’ll gladly keep on my shelf and possibly re-read in the future. I can’t speak to its contribution to the genre as a whole — as I’ve said, I’m new to this kind of book — but from a newcomer’s perspective, it was certainly worth the read. And on the strength of this novel’s writing, I plan to pick up more of Mitchell’s work in the future!

P.S. Want to know more about the book? Here’s a FAQ sheet with the author that’s worth a look!

Available now at your favorite bookseller from Bethany House,

a division of Baker Publishing Group.

Yes, it’s that time again! Blog touuuuur!!! Courtesy of Graf-Martin Communications, as always. Don’t you just love it when publishers give their authors chances like this, to have their books read by people in the blogosphere and spread the news of their work by word of mouth? I honestly wish I’d gotten into reviewing books a long time ago… I’ve always been a voracious reader, but it’s just so satisfying to share the excitement of a great book with others, or even just discuss the likes/dislikes in a respectful, informed manner…

But, enough reminiscing! You’re here for the blog tour, so we’ll get right to it. There are two books this month, and I’ll start with the one I liked least first, and save the best for last (that’s tomorrow!).

Without further ado, I give you…

Sixteen Brides – Stephanie Grace Whitson

Summary (from the publisher):

In 1872, sixteen Civil War widows living in St. Louis respond to a series of meetings conducted by a land speculator who lures them west by promising “prime homesteads” in a “booming community.” Unbeknownst to them, the speculator’s true motive is to find an excuse to bring women to the fledging community of Plum Grove, Nebraska, in hopes they will accept marriage proposals shortly after their arrival!

Sparks fly when these unsuspecting widows meet the men who are waiting for them. These women are going to need all the courage and faith they can muster to survive these unwanted circumstances–especially when they begin to discover that none of them is exactly who she appears to be.

My Thoughts…

Well! I thought this certainly sounded like an intriguing premise… and I looked forward to a lot of strong-willed women trying to duke it out amongst themselves in the wild West. And for the most part, that’s what happened, so I was rather pleased: the women were strong, emotional, capable, but flawed. Yes, that’s right — they were realistically portrayed, and for the amount of women that Whitson had to focus on over the course of the story, it was extremely well done!

From a writer’s perspective, telling the story from the perspective of FIVE main characters is an extremely risky and difficult move, but Whitson pulled it off with skill. They each had their own very strong but distinct voice, and if I ever meet Whitson in person, I’d love to congratulate her on handling it so well.

However… and I hate to say this because the author managed her material so well… the story really did seem to drag during the final third of the book. After several hundred pages of getting the women there, having the love stories get set up and the problems progress, I was ready to resolve everything and be done with it. I think several of the sub-plots simply dragged on too long, and she could have ended the book about a hundred pages earlier without losing anything.

That said, this is the kind of historical fiction that you’ll enjoy if you like this kind of historical — a bit predictable, but entertaining along the journey. For me, I found the inclusion of flaws for each woman to be very refreshing — especially since so many women in the Christian fiction I’ve read recently have been so nearly perfect that I’ve wanted to scream (as you know if you’ve read my previous reviews).

Again, this is one for the church library — but you might as well read it first! You may not love it, and you may find the story drags a bit, but you have to at least admire the skill with which Whitson follows FIVE main characters through the whole novel. Why not give it a try?

Available now at your favorite bookseller from Bethany House,

a division of Baker Publishing Group

Heartless – Anne Elisabeth Stengl (Available July 1st, 2010)

From the Back Cover…

The Dragon King Seeks His Princess– Who Dares to Stop Him? Princess Una of Parumvir has come of age and will soon marry. She dreams of a charming prince, but when her first suitor arrives, he’s not what she’d hoped. Prince Aethelbald of mysterious Farthestshore has travelled a great distance to prove his love–and also to bring hushed warnings of danger. A dragon is rumored to be on the hunt and blazing a path of terror.

Una, smitten instead with a more dashing prince, refuses Aethelbald’s offer–and ignores his cautions with dire consequences. Soon the Dragon King himself is in Parumvir and Una, in giving her heart away unwisely, finds herself in his sights. Only those courageous enough to risk everything have a hope of fighting off this advancing evil.

My Thoughts…

After reading the rather cliched back cover copy, I approached this book with skepticism… I hoped it wouldn’t be that bad, but I kept putting off reading it because I didn’t want to start yet another mediocre fantasy and have to write a lukewarm review on another ER book.

Honestly, it didn’t start well… it was a bit slow, the writing style was in that vague, flow-y fantasy vein that tends to annoy me to no end (why can’t the author just SPEAK PLAINLY?!), and the plot seemed rather generic.

So, imagine my surprise when, in the second half of the book, I became extremely invested in the characters, the plot, and the world that Stengl created. In fact, I read the entire book in one sitting… I think I got up once to refill my tea mug.

The book has its weaknesses: the heroine is a bit underdeveloped, and the love story feels somewhat contrived. But it also has its strengths: the way dragons are born was unexpected and unique, and the hero (and his rival) are rather interesting on their own terms.

One thing to note is, I spent the first two thirds of the book waiting for the ‘Christian’ part of the book to happen… it’s published as a CBA book, which usually means some form of evangelism will appear at least for a few pages (even in the rare CBA fantasy novels), and imagine my delight when I realized that… it wasn’t coming. There wasn’t going to be a forced ‘Christianese’ aspect to the world, rather, the book simply reflected a Christian worldview and let the story stand on its own as a well written, interesting fantasy novel.

I will say that I don’t think the book will be for everyone. I’m also not entirely sure how this is going to develop as a series, which is clearly the author’s intent — I think it does well as a stand-alone.

I received a complimentary copy of this book through LibraryThing.com’s ER program.

Kaleidoscope - Patsy Clairmont

Clairmont’s newest book is a devotional-style offering, presenting short chapters (ideal for busy women) that reflect on specific passages in Proverbs. The chapters address everything from fear to friendship to anxiety, using Clairmont’s trademark lighthearted approach to subjects that might normally bog down a book like this.

It’s certainly an easy read, and the kind of book that I would recommend as a gift to a female Christian friend or relative — particularly someone who’s having difficulty seeing the lighter side of life and needs some reassurance that God is in control. However, be forewarned that it doesn’t contain the same amount of humor that many of us have some to expect from Clairmont — but then, the book isn’t really meant to be funny, so from that angle it makes sense.

Above all, it’s an easy read and Clairmont’s anecdotes give the book a friendly, earthy tone — like you’re meeting a girlfriend for coffee and chatting about life and how God fits into it.

No, it’s not the best book available on the topic, but it does what it sets out to do, and it does it well. Like I said, it would make an excellent gift — but buy it early so you have a chance to read it first.

I received this book free from Thomas Nelson Publishers as part of their BookSneeze.com book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own.